First nets of the year!

The Lancs U13s Squad got together at Old Trafford this afternoon for their first session of 2011. Preparations are now well underway for the Barbados Tour and the summer matches that will follow. The session lasted 3 hours and included fitness work and skills-based drills. The Coaches were able to make an initial assessment of how the individual players have "over-wintered", their fitness and the areas they need to work on their individual skills - technical, mental and physical!

Head Coach Dave Leighton addresses the squad at Old Trafford.

"Whoa! We're going to Barbados!"

Four of the U13s Squad - most of the pace bowling attack - enjoy a break during the net session. Luckily, they didn't sing the song! Check out the video.

What's my name?

The Fashion Show at Bury CC on March 9th will include a chance to win this unique hand knitted cricketer! All you have to do is guess the cricketer's name - £1 per guess with all proceeds going to the Barbados Tour Fund. Good luck!

Post your e-mail address below if you'd like to enter but won't be at the Fashion Show - we'll contact you!

Squad Training - Old Trafford nets

The Tour Squad gets together at Old Trafford tomorrow for a combined net session with Under 14s.

This will be the first opportunity of 2011 for the lads to meet up and see how much they've grown since the end of last season! There'll be a couple of additions to the Squad for the net sessions over the next few weeks as the Coaching team look at new candidates for a place in the playing squad for the 2011 English season - none of the Barbados party can be complacent as there's pressure on places!

Hopefully I'll be able to publish a few photos from the net session next week, and I've also got some interesting thoughts on the Tour from Head Coach, Dave Leighton - so watch this space!

Thought provoking poem!

This is a famous poem written by Sir Henry Newbolt in 1892 and it was used as a propoganda piece in World War 1. I'm sure the Tour Squad won't end up in a war but there'll be some tough battles in Barbados and it may well come down to "Ten to make and the match to win -  A bumping pitch and a blinding light" in the conditions we are likely to find in the Caribbean - the Squad's spirit and comradeship will be vital in such circumstances! It was a bit like that in the last match at the Taunton Festival in August when the Lancs Lads were pipped at the post by Hampshire in a thrilling finish to a week's great cricket.

Vitai Lampada

There's a breathless hush in the Close tonight -

Ten to make and the match to win -

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

And it's not for the sake of the ribboned coat,

Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,

But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -

'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

 

The sand of the Desert is sodden red -

Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -

The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel's dead,

And the regiment's blind with dust and smoke.

The river of death has brimmed his banks,

And England's far, and Honour a name,

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:

'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

 

This is the world that year by year,

While in her place the school is set,

Every one of her sons must hear,

And none that hears it dare forget.

This they all with joyful mind

Bear through life like a torch in flame,

And falling fling to the host behind -

'Play up ! play up ! and play the game !'

 

Sir Henry Newbolt

Upcoming Fund Raising Events

Saturday February 5th

Sports Dinner (organised by Paul Clough) - Village Hotel, Hyde, MANCHESTER. Guest Speaker - Warren Hegg (ex Lancashire CC). Comedian - Charlie Hale. Auction of sporting memorabilia.

Saturday February 26th

Bag packing - venue to be confirmed by Shaun Anders. 10th February 2011 - venue now confirmed as ASDA in Blackburn and Sharon Brown has volunteered to be the organiser!

Saturday 5th March

Bag packing - Morrison's Atlas Store, Chorley Old Road, BOLTON (replacement date for the event cancelled due to heavy snow on the Saturday before Christmas). Organiser - Christine Seward.

Wednesday 9th March

Fashion Show - Bury Cricket Club. Organisers Nikki Morris, Liv Davidson & Sarah Davidson (with various assistants!). Tickets £3. Stunning glamour models from the ranks of Mums & Sisters!

Date tbc but probably early April
Chris Brownlow's sponsored "Club to County" Bike Ride from his home Club (Horwich RMI, Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton) to Old Trafford AND BACK! This will be Chris's final effort to raise funds for the Tour Fund, which will cover playing expenses, food etc whist the Squad is in Barbados. He is looking for the maximum number of individual sponsors to pay a minimum of £2 (but greater contributions welcome!).

Friday 1st April
Lancashire Cricket Board Golf Day - Eccleston Park Golf Club, St Helens. This is not a fund raising event for the Barbados Tour but I'm promoting it here as it's been arranged to raise funds for Lancashire Junior Cricket across the County and all age groups - and it's been part organised by Shaun Anders, one of the Coaches for the Barbados Tour.
http://www.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=1048

10 weeks to go!

So 2011 is now well under way and the countdown is on - just over 10 weeks to go before the Lancs U13s cricket squad jets off to Barbados for 2 weeks of competition, skills development, team building and fun! All in all, it should be a life and cricket enhancing experience. Oh, and the parents, siblings and others who are going along as bag carriers and sun cream appliers may get a bit out of it as well!

Provisional Tour Itinerary

Monday 11^th April                
Depart Manchester to Barbados

Tuesday 12^th April               
Day at Leisure – Practice session

Wednesday 13^th April           
Game 1

Thursday 14^th April              
Day at Leisure

Friday 15^th April                  
Game 2

Saturday 16^th April               
Day at Leisure

Sunday 17^th April                 
Game 3

Monday 18^th April               
Day at Leisure

Tuesday 19^th April                
Game 4

Wednesday 20^th April          
Game 5

Thursday 21^st April           

Game 6 v Barbados U13s/14s at Kensington Oval (Barbados Test Match ground)

http://www.barbados.org/kensington_oval.htm

  

Friday 22^nd April                    
Good Friday
Day at Leisure

Saturday 23^rd April                          
Day at Leisure

Sunday 24^th April                   
Easter Sunday
Day at Leisure

Monday 25^th April                            
Depart Barbados to Manchester

Click here for details of the Squad's performances as the Lancashire U12s during season 2010

http://www.lancashirecricket.co.uk/jh/news_item.asp?NewsID=375